Cosgrove in mix for basin

Flood management is on the agenda for water ministers this week.
Photo: Matthew Smithwick

by
Sophie Morris

Former defence force chief and 2001 Australian of the Year
Peter Cosgrove
has been suggested as a possible replacement for Murray-Darling Basin Authority chairman Mike Taylor, who quit last week.

General Cosgrove is believed to have been nominated by several stakeholders, who want the government to appoint someone with a high profile and leadership skills to manage the controversial debate about water reforms in the river system.

“He’s been to war. He could handle it," said one source, in a wry reference to the fact that Mr Taylor had come under fire – including having objects thrown at him – from angry irrigators at community meetings around the basin since the authority released its initial proposals for the future of the river system in October.

Federal and state water ministers are expected to discuss possible replacements when they meet in Albury on Friday, although they may defer a decision as Mr Taylor plans to stay in the role until the end of next month. They are also likely to discuss flood management after downpours in Queensland, NSW and Victoria in the past two weeks damaged crops in regions that only recently emerged from drought.

Another suggestion to replace Mr Taylor is former South Australian water minister
Karlene Maywald
, a state Nationals MP who joined the Rann Labor government’s ministry but lost her seat at this year’s state election. Ms Maywald is widely respected for her detailed understanding of water policy.

The process of appointing Mr Taylor as the authority’s inaugural chair was fraught and drawn-out because, under the intergovernmental agreement which underpins the Water Act, the states can block the commonwealth’s nominee.

In theory, filling the vacancy may be less onerous as the agreement says it is up to the commonwealth minister to appoint the replacement, after consultation with the states.

The new Coalition government in Victoria could complicate things, although the previous state Labor government also often resisted federal proposals.

Related Quotes

Company Profile

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman
Graeme Samuel
has been recommended by one stakeholder group, though some irrigators resent the competition watchdog’s recent water market rulings. Another suggestion is former Howard government environment minister
Robert Hill
, a South Australian.

In a sign that whoever is appointed faces a tough task, the National Irrigators’ Council said, in a submission to the authority, that the reform process so far had been “drawn-out, opaque, confusing and ultimately damaging for our members and their communities".

The submission warned: “The nature of the process has breached trust with industry and jeopardised support for reform."

Environment and Water Minister
Tony Burke
’s advisers have asked stakeholders for input on the appointment. Mr Burke said last week that no decision had been made about a replacement.